WING TUBE STUCK TIGHT

[fastace]

i have just set up both new foam wings with fibreglass sleeve inserts and fitted the aluminium tube to make sure all was ligned up correctly , next day i cant remove the tube from one wing half. somehow abit of epoxy has seeped through the taped end of the fibreglass sleeve making contact with the alloy tube end, i cant swist the tube atall and dont want to force things too much incase i break the total joint between the fibreglass sleeve and the foam. any hints ? thanks.

[classclown]

fastface, have you tried blowing some hot air into the tube with a heat gun? Should not take too much heat. When you get it out, talcum powderon the tube should help.

[JoeAirPort]

Great idea. True, heat will set it free.

[SmoothFlying]

Heat will work but be careful you do not get it too hot in there that you start melting the foam around the sleeve in the wing. You'll have more problems then. I'd try taking a piece of hard wood and placing at the end of the tube and lightly tap the tube with a hammer to try and break apart that epoxy.

[JoeAirPort]

Maybe start with a hair dyer on high heat and see if that lets it loose. Aluminum conducts heat very quickly.

[SleepyC]

Also, rubbing alcohol will destroy epoxy. If you ran a tiny bit down the tube, just an eyedropper full, perhaps it would soften enough epoxy to free the tube.

Obviously be very careful with the amount, as you only need the small bit holding your tube to soften.

[MODE 1]

Ah just tap the end with a sharp blow from a piece of wood that will break the glue bond. If one blow doesn't work then hit the tube at 12, 6, 3 and 9 o'clock. Don't think alcohol will work when the glues already cured.

[Unbalanced]

Heat the tube with your heat gun, give it a wack and a twist. It'll come loose. Same method used to re-shaft golf clubs. It'll come loose.

[brycesteenburg]

Fastace, I accidently did this once too and what I did was heat the tube with a heat gun, it was pretty warm but not hot enough to melt the foam, then had a 5 gallon bucket with iced water filled to the top ready. As soon as I felt the tube was hot enough and had transfered the heat to the other end I quick dunked the exposed tube end in the ice water till it was cold then slowly working with a twist motion I felt the epoxy just let loose and pulled the tube out. No epoxy was left on the tube either. After I got the tube out I reheated it and let it sit on the garage bench till it cooled naturally. I don't know if I just got lucky or not but it worked for me. Good luck!
Bryce

[jamesrxx951]

i think i would try the heat method also. but it don't need to be to hot to loosen up the epoxy. if the tube gets to hot i don't know if it would expand to much and stretch out the tube sleeve.

[BreadBowl]

	Quote: Originally Posted by SleepyC
	Also, rubbing alcohol will destroy epoxy. If you ran a tiny bit down the tube, just an eyedropper full, perhaps it would soften enough epoxy to free the tube. Obviously be very careful with the amount, as you only need the small bit holding your tube to soften.

Will that work on cured epoxy?

[JoeAirPort]

.

[rcpilot82]

won't acetone eat foam????

[JoeAirPort]

	Quote: Originally Posted by rcpilot82
	won't acetone eat foam????

Whoa !!! Clarification, I am not saying to use acetone or CA debonder on this problem. I was just saying that acetone and CA debonder will take off or soften cured epoxy. No doubt it will eat the foam. Plus it's not a good solution for this particular problem...period. Sorry if I confused anybody.

[rcpilot82]

Whew, thats good to clarify for some may not know.